2013 ODH visits Millington
Old Dominion joint meet thrills
See Liz King report and photos!
Old Dominion February 16th Joint Meet with Farmington at Millington
report by Liz King plus New photos by Chris Middleton
WOW! ! ! ! What a hunt. (You can follow along with Bonnie Hanks track by clicking here:)
Well, we started the usual way to the left of Millington into Alberto's. then across Katinka crossing into the back of Hunting Ridge. Then across the edge of the river all the way past Blue Hole into Palmers bottom field then up to Old McNeely's property. Then back down to the Gates and towards Midway. Then out on to Ridge rd. and across to just past Quail Ridge. Then it started.
Behind the Spauldings house (which is across from Fox Ridge) they hit a brace. One went across river toward Schelford and one up to Ridge Rd. Where us Hilltoppers were standing and Shawnee (Baker) saw him run behind house next to Spauldings towards Spaulding's. And then we saw a hound (I think it was Rambler because of his right side having the white marking on his hip) right on him. But all the other hounds went across the Mechums. I don't really know where he ran from there so it will be fun to see that on Bonnie's track. But they eventually came back across river and up to ridge rd. We hilltoppers moved down but not soon enough to see him cross into the cover above the ponds at Fox Ridge. but the hounds came up the hill to the road and lost the sent there a little but Daron worked the cover and soon enough they were screaming again. They did some turns in the this cover but got on the sent again and darn if that fox hadn't run right up the alley way to the driveway at Fox Ridge and then up towards the Barns and behind them.
(Okay, my wrists are tired of typing.)
I am not sure what happened from here but they got on the scent of same fox or maybe the foxes had tag team going and another one ran again up between the Laings and Hunting Ridge across Ridge road. and flying up parallel with the road maybe just behind the houses, Bok (Summers) was with them the whole way. (so exciting I am getting chills all over again). Believe it or not he crossed back over Ridge rd. AGAIN! ! ! Now I am not sure here what happened. Please if someone knows better speak up. But we heard Daron say they had gone down past the muck heap at FR and over the river(Moormans) towards Percy Wood house. Then Carolyn came on say she just had a fox pass her behind the FOX RIDGE barns again and his tongue was hanging out. Okay at this point us hilltoppers had been across the Hunting Ridge field twice. and we were standing at the end of FR drive way and Alyson and I think Wheels she was riding comes up across ridge rd from the Mechums river and hears Daron say they are headed to Percy Wood she takes off galloping up the field at Hunting Ridge and then Carolyn says about the fox with his tongue hanging, Alyson pipes in "he isn't the only one" L O L..! ! ! ! !
Well, we canter across the field AGAIN and are behind the machine shed at Hunting Rdge and don't you know it the hounds come screaming up behind the Fox Ridge barns right back on that fox again. HOLLY SMOKES! ! ! well, then they run to Blue Hole and loose the scent there. Not sure if the fox went to ground or up the river a ways and out into the back Millington field. BUT WHAT A RUN ! ! ! again we will have to see how long and far with Bonnie.
Thank you jay and Erika Fennell for a wonderful fixture and Mary Buford (Hitz) and all her Millington and FHC volunteers (with Jenn Cofield helping with set up)with supplying such great FOOD and WARM food. Because it was Freezing.
Liz King's Photos are in the Hunting Photo Gallery, check them out and many thanks for this fun report!
Note from Bonnie Hanks:
Here is the track for 1st flight. 14 miles.
Yes, what a run!! I swear we galloped up the trail to Midway 10 times and Fox Ridge almost as many. Our favorite part was watching the hounds follow the scent right up to the edge of a rock jutting into the river where they fretted for a bit then just dove in the deep water, swam to the other side, got right on the scent, and were gone up into the woods, and being winter we could see every bit of it and the sound was incredible. They are just so amazing!
